Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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Under my Department, the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) provides two main grant schemes to support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures. These include capital grants for conservation works as well as financial assistance for owners to obtain conservation advice for their historic structures. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) are, in the main, administered by the local authorities, while applications for the Conservation Advice Grant are made directly to my Department.

The BHIS provides capital funding of between €2,500 and €50,000 for repair or conservation works to the following types of buildings:

1. Protected structures
2. Proposed protected structures
3. Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs)
4. Vernacular buildings

Under BHIS, each local authority receives an allocation of funds from my Department based on the proportion of structures on their Register of Protected Structures (RPS) when compared to the national total. Each local authority can award funding to eligible applications within their area that meet the terms and conditions of the BHIS circular. Within the BHIS separate ring-fenced funding is available for thatched buildings under the Historic Thatch Grant. The purpose of this scheme is to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings. Any historic thatched structure, including domestic or commercial, is eligible for this scheme.

The Historic Structures Fund provides capital funding of between €50,000 and €200,000 for works to qualifying structures which include the following:

1. Protected Structures: Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of each Local Authority;
2. Structures eligible for or proposed for inclusion in the RPS but not yet formally approved for inclusion.
3. Structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances apply.

Eligible projects should be:

1. projects proposed by local authorities on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of historic structures
2. projects proposed by a Local Authority for works to historic structures in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated.

The HSF is a nationally competitive scheme, whereby local authorities present a shortlist of eligible applications for consideration to my Department each year. The standard of conservation projects received is always very high and the scheme is always over-subscribed. For the 2025 awards, each local authority could present up to three privately owned structures for consideration. These are assessed at a national level by officials from the NBHS within my Department, with 28 projects ultimately being awarded funding for 2025 last March.

It is important to note that for both BHIS and HSF there is a detailed list of Qualifying/Non-Qualifying Works which set out exactly what types of conservation work can be funded under these schemes. All works proposed should be in accordance with the standards of best practice as outlined in the Department’s Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2011). Full details of qualifying works can be found on my Department's website and on the websites of each local authority, who remain the first point of contact for applications for both schemes.

Additionally, under the HSF is the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses which is operated directly by my Department on an annual basis. This scheme provides grants for expert conservation advice to privates owners of traditional houses. It supports the refurbishment of properties under two streams:

1. Stream 1 of the scheme is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area. Buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop.
2. Stream 2 of the scheme is open to owners of Vacant Traditional Farmhouses where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic farmhouse located within an Architectural Conservation Area and/or a vernacular farmhouse which has no statutory protection

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme provides funding to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise to visit a vacant or derelict traditional building, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. It can be combined with the Vacant Homes Refurbishment Grant to help owners make the most efficient use of their available resources when restoring their property.